Family Time. Perfect Peace or (Mega) Pressure??

Every year is the same. October rolls around, and, without fail, the same futile conversation takes place.  "Let's make a pact!" Me and Bri say cheerfully as we slurp on our pumpkin soup, "This Christmas, we will...  Not go overboard on presents. After all, the holiday season is about being together, not scanning the presents like scavvy vultures to see who's spent the most. Hurray! Keep the meal nice and simple. No foo-fah for us. Turn off all devices. We will play board games and talk after dinner. Be like the Waltons. Go easy on the alcohol. (Not sure why). Just because it's more organic and healthy. Yippee! Smile and be happy. Always.    And every single year, the same thing happens. We... Spend shit loads of money, then get mad when each child doesn't fall at our feet with gratitude and say,  "Wow! Thank you! I know how hard you work. I can't tell you how grateful I am for this box of Ferrero Rocher."  Spend all day slaving over the stove making a stupidly fancy creme caramel recipe that is far too hard and involves separating eggs. Which, when served at dinner, is assumed to be shop bought. Take out the phone a billion times a day and say. "Oh wait! let me video it! I'll need to remember this when you leave home, and I'm sad and dead". Sulk because the kids don't say how wonderful and scrumptious your creme caramel is. Get pissed. Get in a mood. Cry. Be miserable. Moan. Feel guilty for mentioning death at Christmastime. Cry a bit more.   This is the last podcast episode of 2022, so we thought we'd go out with a band. No holding back with this one...! Today you will discover the reality of the holiday season in the Deacle family household, Brian's French run-in with the runs and why Liz will never feel the same about a certain perfume ever again...   Sending you many and much of everything lovely and bright. Liz and Bri x Links Mentioned in The Show:    My Newsletter Sign up HERE, and I will send you my super-duper FREE weekly newsletter. It is filled with nothing but goodness, laughter, and thought-provoking stuff. You will love it. But be warned. Sometimes I cry and drink wine while I'm writing. At the same time. If that sounds like your sort of thing, then sign up here, and we will be lifelong friends. Our Moving to  NEW ZEALAND Podcast, NZ Ahead If you are moving to New Zealand and are in search of the BEST New Zealand content in the world, then check out our other fabulous Podcast - NZ AHEAD Here is the D&G Perfume "Pour femme" that we talked about! (It's actually a beautiful perfume!)   Email us! Remember! if you would like us to tell the story of the Parisian dinner party, then email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. We personally reply to every email! Drop us a line to say hi!   We LOVE Housesitting. Want to Try it too?  If you have been following this podcast for a while, then you will know that we have just returned for six months in Europe and Asia. While we were there, we did a lot of housesitting. We are constantly asked how we did this and if we can share the website that we used. So here it is: The initial 'looking part' is free. You can oggle all of the beautiful houses around the world that are waiting for YOU to look after them. Take a sneak peek here! (As I say, looking is completely free, so gander to your heart's content). Then, if you are serious about using Housesitting as a tool to travel the world for free (as we do), then sign up to Trusted Housesitters HERE and use Code: SITTERLIZ to get your 20% discount! Still not sure about paying for a Housesitting membership? Remember that the cost of a yearly membership (approx $80 using the discount code above) will be paid back (and more) on the first housesitting night. It really is that simple! Follow us on: YouTube Instagram  Pinterest Facebook TikTok     Subscribe to this PODCAST on Apple Subscribe to this PODCAST on Android Subscribe to this PODCAST on Spotify   More Brilliant Podcast Episodes From It's a Drama: The Ghost of Brian's Past (Book Reading Episode) A Ruthless Response  The Harsh Realities of Returning Home It's scary, but it's done  Tossing and Turning in Thailand She's Gone. was it a SECRET or a LIE? Feeling Emotional. The Next Step. Italian Men Pigs, And Pigeons Drenched, Bothered And Bewildered Travel The World For FREE. All About Housesitting  We're Leaving New Zealand. Why I'm Terrified to Travel.  How We Afford To Travel the World Greece?? For a Month?? How Much Does THAT Cost?? Up, Down And BUST England We Love You...Sort Of